U.N. Blasted For Appointing Iranian Official To Chair Human Rights Social Forum

Hillel Neuer Of UN Watch blasted the United Nations for appointing the representative of Iran, the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism, as chair of the U.N. Human Rights Council’s social forum.

UNHRC President Vaclav Balek had announced the appointment of Ali Bahreini, Ambassador and Permanent Representative for Iran, as chair of the Social Forum to start in November.

“We meet here at the United Nations on the eve of the first anniversary of the death of Mahsa Amini while in the custody of the morality police in Tehran,” Neuer noted of the 22-year-old woman who died in the custody of Iran’s “Morality Police” in September 2022 after being arrested for “improper clothing,” sparking nationwide protests against the regime.

“In the days and months that followed, in cities across Iran, a mass movement of brave women and men rose up in protest under the banner, ‘Women, Life, Freedom’ — to demand an end to the trampling of their basic human rights. The Council is aware that the peaceful protesters were met with a brutal crackdown by security forces, with hundreds killed and many thousands injured and arrested,” Neuer continued. “On November 24, this Council met in urgent session, and condemned Iran’s arbitrary arrests, excessive use of force, torture, and forced disappearances and sexual abuse of women protesters.”

“This Council is also aware that the two journalists who first reported the death of Masah Amini, Niloofar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi, are still in prison, and that thousands of schoolgirls were hospitalized for poisoning by toxic gas,” he noted.

“Therefore, Mr. President, we have to ask: On what basis did this Council appoint the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran as chair of this U.N. Human Rights Council’s social forum, starting on November 2?”

“We ask the United Nations: How can you elevate and celebrate a government that beats, blinds, tortures and rapes women for the crime of demanding their basic human rights? Where is the logic? Where is the morality? We’ve published a draft resolution to cancel this appointment. We today urge this Council to adopt this resolution and cancel this appointment,” he concluded.

I asked the UN: “Why did you name the Islamic Republic of Iran as Chair of the UN Human Rights Council Social Forum, starting on Nov. 2nd? How can you elevate a regime that beats, blinds, tortures & rapes women who demand their rights? Where is the logic? Where is the morality?” pic.twitter.com/tWefa4qA50

— Hillel Neuer (@HillelNeuer) October 30, 2023